Local children held signs for Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani as he speaks during the Spartanburg County GOP convention at Dorman High School in Spartanburg, S.C., Saturday April 21, 2007.... (Associated Press)

(Newser)
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Rudy Giuliani is trying to tone down the gay-friendly stance he took as mayor of New York, criticizing New Hampshire's new civil unions bill because it "goes too far" toward gay marriage, which he opposes. As mayor, Giuliani signed a landmark domestic partnerships bill; on the campaign trail, he appears to be changing his tune.

As the Republican frontrunner attempts a rightward shift, his lexical contortions probably won't cut it, analysts say. "You can't turn around at the eleventh hour and say this comes a little too close to marriage and then not support it," one GOP pollster told the New York Sun.